From left, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and Rosalynn Carter attend the State Funeral of former President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.

Trumps take heat for not reciting Apostles' Creed at George H.W. Bush funeral

Trumps criticized for not reciting Apostles' Creed

Author:
Hasan Dudar, USA TODAY

Published:
8:54 AM EST December 6, 2018

Updated:
5:23 PM EST December 6, 2018

From left, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and Rosalynn Carter attend the State Funeral of former President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 5, 2018.

Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are being criticized online for not reciting the Apostles’ Creed during the funeral of former President George H. W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday.

The Trumps appeared to abstain from joining the rest of the church – including former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, along with their wives – as they read the Creed from their programs.

And that drew notice.

“Striking that all the former Presidents and First Ladies recited the Apostles Creed, but Trump and Melania stood silently and did not. The creeds are at the heart of historic orthodox Christianity,” wrote journalist and author Jon Ward in tweet.

Striking that all the former Presidents and First Ladies recited the Apostles Creed, but Trump and Melania stood silently and did not. The creeds are at the heart of historic orthodox Christianity

Twitter user Paul Edwards wrote: “Does it bother anyone else that President Trump is standing with his arms folded, silent, while the rest of the congregation recites the Apostles Creed? Can he not affirm the faith expressed in the Creed?”

"This is shameful for a Christian who refuses to say the Apostles Creed," Twitter user Larry L Tillman wrote. "I told you he's playing like he is a Christian just to get Christians to support him. Shameful but he don't fool me, he won't get my support."

This is shameful for a Christian who refuses to say the Apostles Creed. I told you he's playing like he is a Christian just to get Christians to support him. Shameful but he don't fool me, he won't get my support. https://t.co/yW2vLfX4xU

The Creed, which professes central Christian beliefs like Jesus' birth to the Virgin Mary and ascension to heaven, connects Christians of different traditions and practices, according to a definition by the Church of England.

Former President George H.W. Bush's service dog, Sully, lying in front of his casket on Dec. 2, 2018.

A guest to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in University Park, Texas passes by a painted portrait of Bush's father, the late 41st President George H.W. Bush -- painted by former Pres. George W. Bush -- and a memorial wreath, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018.

Tiffany Utterson, right, and her children, from left to right, Ella, 11, Ian, 10 and Owen, 8, place a wreath outside the gated community entrance to the home of George H.W. Bush Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Houston.

Flags on the National Mall fly at half-staff to honor the passing of former President George H.W. Bush in Washington, Dec. 1, 2018.

A statue of George H.W. Bush with flowers stands near downtown in Houston, Dec. 2, 2018.

A moment of silence is observed in the memory of former President George H.W. Bush during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Dec. 2, 2018.

Caroline Cyboran, of Kingwood, Texas, looks at an exhibit while visting the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station. Bush has died at age 94. Family spokesman Jim McGrath says Bush died shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, about eight months after the death of his wife, Barbara Bush.

President George H. W. Bush is honored prior to the SEC championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

A messages lies among flowers left at the base of a statue of George H.W. Bush outside the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

Flowers are placed at the foot of a statue of George H.W. Bush outside the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

The US flag flies at half-staff at the White House in tribute to former US President George H. W. Bush, on Dec. 1, 2018, in Washington, DC. Bush, who guided the US through the end of the Cold War and launched the international campaign to drive Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait, died on November 30, 2018, at his home in Houston. He was 94.

Kalob Duke, 6, of College Station, Texas, sits behind the desk in a replica of the Oval Office exhibit at the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

A man pays his respects to former President George H. W. Bush at a makeshift memorial across from Walker's Point, the Bush's summer home, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush died at the age of 94 on Friday, about eight months after the death of his wife, Barbara Bush.

Caroline Western, 3, of College Station, Texas, touches at a statue of George H.W. Bush inside the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

A visitor takes a photo of a painting of George H.W. Bush inside the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

A passer-by cleans off the historical marker near the birth home of former United States President George H. W Bush in Milton, Mass. on Dec. 1, 2018.

Visitors to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum sign condolence books Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

Flowers lay at the statue of former United States President George H.W. Bush near the Presidential Library in College Station, Texas on Dec. 1, 2018.

01/18

Former President George H.W. Bush's service dog, Sully, lying in front of his casket on Dec. 2, 2018.

02/18

A guest to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in University Park, Texas passes by a painted portrait of Bush's father, the late 41st President George H.W. Bush -- painted by former Pres. George W. Bush -- and a memorial wreath, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018.

03/18

Tiffany Utterson, right, and her children, from left to right, Ella, 11, Ian, 10 and Owen, 8, place a wreath outside the gated community entrance to the home of George H.W. Bush Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Houston.

04/18

Flags on the National Mall fly at half-staff to honor the passing of former President George H.W. Bush in Washington, Dec. 1, 2018.

05/18

A statue of George H.W. Bush with flowers stands near downtown in Houston, Dec. 2, 2018.

06/18

A moment of silence is observed in the memory of former President George H.W. Bush during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Dec. 2, 2018.

07/18

Caroline Cyboran, of Kingwood, Texas, looks at an exhibit while visting the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station. Bush has died at age 94. Family spokesman Jim McGrath says Bush died shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, about eight months after the death of his wife, Barbara Bush.

08/18

President George H. W. Bush is honored prior to the SEC championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

09/18

A messages lies among flowers left at the base of a statue of George H.W. Bush outside the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

10/18

Flowers are placed at the foot of a statue of George H.W. Bush outside the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

11/18

The US flag flies at half-staff at the White House in tribute to former US President George H. W. Bush, on Dec. 1, 2018, in Washington, DC. Bush, who guided the US through the end of the Cold War and launched the international campaign to drive Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait, died on November 30, 2018, at his home in Houston. He was 94.

12/18

Kalob Duke, 6, of College Station, Texas, sits behind the desk in a replica of the Oval Office exhibit at the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

13/18

A man pays his respects to former President George H. W. Bush at a makeshift memorial across from Walker's Point, the Bush's summer home, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush died at the age of 94 on Friday, about eight months after the death of his wife, Barbara Bush.

14/18

Caroline Western, 3, of College Station, Texas, touches at a statue of George H.W. Bush inside the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

15/18

A visitor takes a photo of a painting of George H.W. Bush inside the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

16/18

A passer-by cleans off the historical marker near the birth home of former United States President George H. W Bush in Milton, Mass. on Dec. 1, 2018.

17/18

Visitors to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum sign condolence books Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in College Station.

18/18

Flowers lay at the statue of former United States President George H.W. Bush near the Presidential Library in College Station, Texas on Dec. 1, 2018.